Egypt experienced a devastating collapse in the World Cup, losing 3-2 to Argentina after leading 2-0 with just 12 minutes remaining in the match.
The Pharaohs were on the verge of securing their best-ever World Cup result and advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Cristian Romero pulled a goal back for Argentina in the 79th minute. The equalizer came from Lionel Messi four minutes later, before Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal with a header in the second minute of stoppage time.
During the match, Egypt's players and staff expressed significant frustration with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. A second goal for Egypt was disallowed due to a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martinez, which occurred earlier in the build-up when Egypt was leading 1-0. Egyptian football expert Ahmad Yousef described the VAR decision as "inconsistent" and "minimal," highlighting the distance from the foul to the disallowed goal.
Furthermore, Egypt was adamant that Mohamed Salah was fouled in the penalty area moments before Argentina launched their attack for the winning goal. This perceived injustice added to the team's distress.
Upon the final whistle, many Egyptian players were seen in disbelief, some slumping to the floor. Captain Mohamed Salah swapped shirts with former Liverpool teammate Alexis MacAllister before walking off the pitch with his head down.
The match was noted for its dramatic turn of events, including a penalty save, a disallowed goal, a red card, and a thrilling comeback, making it a game that will be remembered in World Cup history.